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Monday, June 1, 2015

Muddy Waters

It's not very often I have a chance to photograph the Barn Swallow. They usually hang around marinas and piers, swooping over the waters at breakneck speeds, making it impossible to capture them with my camera. On May 14th, however, several stopped by a muddy area at Lake Martin, giving me ample opportunity for some shots. I assumed they were digging for insects.






More photos from this trip to follow. I hope everyone has a great week!

Anni, thank you for hosting:

52 comments:

  1. Author R. Mac WheelerJune 1, 2015 at 6:07 AM

    Interesting looking critters. They have heron eyes...spooked.

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  2. EG CameraGirlJune 1, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    I've never seen barn swallows "play" in the mud like that!

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  3. eileeninmdJune 1, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    Hello Gail, awesome shots of the cute Barn Swallows. Maybe they were gathering mud for their nest. Enjoy your Monday and have a happy week ahead!

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  4. AnvilcloudJune 1, 2015 at 8:37 AM

    Evolution has certainly given him a beak suitable for digging.

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  5. TexWisGirlJune 1, 2015 at 9:52 AM

    so very cute. i can imagine them getting a mouthful of mud and trying to 'cack' it back up. :)

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  6. SlamdunkJune 1, 2015 at 9:55 AM

    Nice catch, Gail. Glad you did not have to get muddy for the picture. Zoom has serious perks. Enjoy your Monday.

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  7. Tante MaliJune 1, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    Gail, the pictures are fantastic. So, as an Austrian girl I even didn't know this bird. What a pretty little creature. Thank you for sharing and all my best
    Elisabeth

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  8. nookwormJune 1, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Just playin' in the mud! Nice shots!

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  9. IrmaJune 1, 2015 at 11:34 AM

    Beautiful pictures of the Swallows, Gail.
    They take something of clay to build their nest.
    Perfectly done!!
    Best regards, Irma

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  10. Bas.June 1, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    Een hele mooie serie heb je ervan kunnen maken Gail,prachtig.

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  11. Linda at To Behold The BeautyJune 1, 2015 at 12:25 PM

    These are wonderful pictures of the bird, but what a dreadful way to find food!

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  12. KarenJune 1, 2015 at 12:47 PM

    How beautiful Gail. I have never seen them that close, they are a lovely bird.

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  13. AnonymousJune 1, 2015 at 1:05 PM

    What charming shots.

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  14. MelissaJune 1, 2015 at 2:19 PM

    Too cute! I didn't know they held their wings out like that. I think Pixar could use those photos as a model for one of their movies!

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  15. HannahJune 1, 2015 at 3:57 PM

    The Barn Swallow is adorable, I especially like birds with blue and orange or salmon colors together. He is so cute with the wide stance of his legs is so funny. I would never have imagined they would stick their beaks in the mud like a duck!

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  16. StephanieJune 1, 2015 at 4:29 PM

    Great shots down low. How did you manage to capture these without getting all dirty in the mud?

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  17. Inspired By JuneJune 1, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    Great captures, Gail! I love his skinny little legs, LOL :) Barn Swallows build their nests out of mud, and will wait for the right conditions to build, sometimes building very late in the season if its dry, so that may have been what they were doing. They haven't had to wait to build HERE of course, as we got 12-18 inches of rain last month. Looking forward to a dry June! Have a blessed week, my friend!

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  18. 21 WitsJune 1, 2015 at 5:02 PM

    Incredible captures, I really like these critters too, and there are quite a few that have made their home right here on our property. I just adore your last photo, best of all! So cute.

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  19. Spare Parts and PicsJune 1, 2015 at 5:20 PM

    Definitely digging for something, and enjoying it! Great photos in perfect focus.

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  20. ShugJune 1, 2015 at 6:56 PM

    Hi Gail...... looks like the digging paid off! Is that a minnow of some sort? enjoyed seeing the whole picture from start to finish!!
    Awesome photos...always!

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  21. DonnaJune 1, 2015 at 7:13 PM

    This is fabulous as you captured them gathering mud for nests....I have watched robins do that here.

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  22. The CrankyJune 1, 2015 at 8:09 PM

    Beautifully captured Gail. A difficult one to photograph, let alone so well!

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  23. Ruth HiebertJune 1, 2015 at 9:26 PM

    I am wondering if perhaps they were gathering mud to make their nests.Whatever the case,you got good shots of the action.

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  24. renae June 1, 2015 at 10:07 PM

    hi MY FRIEND!
    Gail, I have always been mystified by how clean animals are. They never have to wear clothes or worry about their outward appearance. Even tho this guy / gal is in the mud -- it is a clean birdie. Don't we wish we could have half of that ability in our human lives? lol

    Thanks for the fun compliment. I wear heels now days if I am very well rested. Chemo still effects my feet. I have neuropathy now after chemo {and my dr just shrugs it off - like no big deal}, but I have to NOT wear my heels much and so many times after wearing my heels I am in horrid pain.

    But I think my pics look better in them. I love these $5 FRANCO SARTO heels. $5 !!!!!! wow!!!!

    ♥renae

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  25. AnonymousJune 1, 2015 at 10:47 PM

    I love their coloring. They sure are busy!

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  26. UnknownJune 2, 2015 at 1:38 AM

    Awesome photos of these cute birds!

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  27. MerisiJune 2, 2015 at 1:53 AM

    Truly special images, congratulations on finally finding an opportunity to captures these beautiful birds!
    My favorite is the first one, a bird with an attitude, love it.

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  28. BeachGypsyJune 2, 2015 at 3:56 AM

    Hi Gail, great close ups of the birds! They put on a whole show for you!

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  29. rainfield61June 2, 2015 at 7:01 AM

    Barn swallow. Beautiful.

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  30. StephanieJune 2, 2015 at 7:52 AM

    Oh dear, a muddy mess indeed! We have a sweet little Barn Swallow that made a nest right about our front door in the eave.

    Thanks for sharing your lovely and fun pictures. Have a great week!

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  31. DebbieJune 2, 2015 at 9:06 AM

    must be a boy...making a muddy mess!!!!!

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  32. Wally JonesJune 2, 2015 at 11:13 AM

    Terrific images, Gail! You're right about trying to catch one in flight - a true challenge!

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  33. AnonymousJune 2, 2015 at 2:16 PM

    And great shots of him gathering mud to build his nest also.

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  34. LindaJune 2, 2015 at 11:08 PM

    Excellent images of a lovely bird.

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  35. A Colorful WorldJune 3, 2015 at 12:57 AM

    What an interesting encounter! I've never seen them do this before. You got some great photos!

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  36. Hootin AnniJune 3, 2015 at 6:02 AM

    Absolutely amazing Gail!!!
    You captured their personalities and survival skills with pizzazz!!!
    Lovin' each photo.

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  37. Kenneth Cole SchneiderJune 3, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    I don't know how they can stay so clean, working with mud all day!

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  38. Anni June 3, 2015 at 1:11 PM

    I'm back to send along my thanks for sharing your link this week at I'd Rather B Birdin'.

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  39. Sallie (FullTime-Life)June 3, 2015 at 2:51 PM

    Have never seen such adorable pictures of swallows .... On the ground even. So impressed. I felt lucky to get some on a roof edge once .... As you say they hard,y ever seem to land.

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  40. Anita JohnsonJune 3, 2015 at 11:43 PM

    I have run out of adjectives...I will just have to go with WOW!

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  41. Joke (Joke's Camera)June 4, 2015 at 1:34 AM

    Wow, you succeeded fantastic to capture these birds. They are indeed very quick. Wonderful pictures, Gail. Greetings, Joke

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  42. renae June 4, 2015 at 8:14 PM

    hi again Gail!
    just wanted to alert you to some new posts today and tomorrow. drop by if you can. ♥renae

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  43. Coloring Outside the LinesJune 5, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    Nice shots- I imagine they were getting the siding for their mud nests!!

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  44. HelmaJune 5, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    Ohhhh ..... beautiful photos of this swallow.
    Sharp and beautiful color, bright and amazing details.
    This is enjoy :-)

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  45. SuzanJune 6, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    Poor Swallows probably aren't use to all this mud!!!
    He's defiantly getting his minerals and grit with his dinner!!!

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  46. Kittie HowardJune 6, 2015 at 2:49 PM

    What a cute little bird! I wish you could sit with us on the back porch and help us identify the birds who visits. One in particular sings and sings each night about six. And, you're right. I'm enjoying my new Mac. It's also a lot lighter! Hope you're having a great weekend.

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  47. thewiildmagnolaJune 7, 2015 at 4:07 PM

    Splendid!

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  48. IndraniJune 9, 2015 at 2:16 AM

    Working hard for food.
    Great series of captures.

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  49. SusanJune 11, 2015 at 4:26 AM

    Great captures of the swallows, Gail, lucky you! I've tried a few times to photograph them, but like you said, they're so speedy. There are at least a couple dozen of them that are nesting under the eaves of an old abandoned farm house and I see them each morning on my way home from work. But, they're still out of range for my camera lens. I've considered trespassing only to take a few quick shots ;)

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  50. Bethany CarsonJune 20, 2015 at 11:07 PM

    Great shots of the swallow! I like how you captured the action with him hard at work!

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  51. ElaJune 24, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    These are so fantastic shots !!!!!

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  52. ElaJune 24, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    These are so fantastic shots !!!!!

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